Aston Villa boss Steve Bruce is keen to work with the striking options he has, rather than bring in another big money forward in January - either on loan or permanently.

There have been suggestions that Villa could be interested in signing a forward player to compensate for the looming January departures of Jonathan Kodjia and Jordan Ayew, while Bruce could also be without flying winger Albert Adomah.

The attacking trio are in the running to go to the African Cup of Nations in Gabon.

And Bruce admitted the scrapping of the emergency loan window has given Football League managers a headache.

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“It’s something we’re going to have to look at and something we’re going to have to identify because it is a bit of a problem. We knew there was a little bit of a problem already. They’re away for possible four or five weeks, it all depends on how their national team do.

“They are influential players that we’re going to lose. Someone like Ross McCormack, Gabby Agbonlahor and the young kid we’ve got, Rushian Hepburn-Murphy - it might be a call for one of those, their chance.”

Rushian Hepburn Murphy of Aston Villa

Bruce, however, is keen to bolster his ranks with January additions in other areas. He is known to be searching for a goalkeeper with Jed Steer ruled out for the season, but he is adamant any potential signing will have to be the right fit.

He said: “We’re always greedy and I think it’s fair to say that there’s been a big turnover of players here in the last 12 or 18 months.

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“The one thing I will always do is that if there is one player out there that can improve you, which is always difficult in January, then we will be in a position to get them.

“But unless I can find that quality that actually makes you better then it could be one player, could be two players, but I won’t just bring them in for the sake of it. We’ve got to give this squad chance.